City are in it to win it, declares Mancini

ROBERTO MANCINI is adamant that when it comes to the FA Cup, Manchester City are in it to win it.

No matter that his priority is securing a place in the top four, the Italian wants his side to lift the trophy.

Next up is a trip to League One Notts County in the fourth round tomorrow and a chance for Mancini to get reacquainted with their manager Paul Ince.

Mancini said: “We want to win the FA Cup. We want to go to the final but first we must win this game.

“It is a very tricky match and the FA Cup is very tricky. When you play against a team like Notts County you think the game will be easy.

“But not me. They won at Sunderland. We will play on a small pitch and we must fight if we want to win.”

Mancini knows all about fighting after being sent off playing for Sampdoria following a dust-up with Ince, then with Inter Milan.

Sven Goran Eriksson was Mancini’s coach and the City boss chuckled as he recalled the spat with the former Manchester United midfielder.

“I remember what happened,” said Mancini. “I had the ball and saw Paul Ince arrive (raising his voice) and I nutmegged him.

“It was incredible. Paul Ince was a good player with a good mentality. But I do not know that much about him as a manager.”

In 2009 Eriksson was appointed director of football at Notts County and asked Mancini to become manager – an approach he rejected.

Mancini was unconvinced it was the right move and his instincts were proved correct as Eriksson left his post seven months later.

Mancini said: “Sven and I talked about this situation. It was a serious inquiry. When Sven called me for this job I read their history. But that was it.”

The City boss may tinker with his side as they have a crucial league game to follow on Wednesday at Birmingham.

Winger Adam Johnson will not be risked after he suffered an ankle injury in training but defender Micah Richards could come into contention after a back problem while striker Edin Dzeko is set to make his debut in the competition.

Meanwhile, Mancini says the door remains open for Emmanuel Adebayor to return to the club. Adebayor has signed a loan deal with Real Madrid until the end of the season after a frustrating time at Eastlands.

The striker was involved in a training ground bust-up with Kolo Toure earlier in the season but Mancini insists that was not the reason he allowed the player to leave at a crucial stage of the campaign.

Mancini said: “These things happen in every club. Will he come back? Why not? “This situation is good for him because has a chance to play in the Champions League. At the end of the season we will see. I think it is important that when someone plays they play 100% and are always happy.”

Goalkeeper Shay Given and Shaun Wright-Phillips will almost certainly stay until the end of the season.

Mancini said: The window closes in three days. For us it would be impossible to find another goalkeeper like Shay. He must stay here.

“If we lose another player we need to bring in someone different. It is impossible, we have 19-20 players for the next four months.”